Social Circumstances, Parenting Techniques, and Infant Development

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Investigators aim to assess a novel behavioral intervention (currently approved in Protocol #6285) behavioral intervention that promotes maternally-mediated behavioral changes in young infants to reduce the risk of postpartum depression in a group of low income women. More specifically, investigators aim to determine if a behavioral intervention targeting maternal caregiving of young infants can increase infant sleep and reduce fuss/cry behavior and thereby: (1) reduce the incidence and/or severity of postpartum maternal depression in low socioeconomic status (SES) women, and (2) improve the quality of mother-infant interaction and subsequent child development. Investigators will study:

The feasibility of applying this protocol with a low SES population

The effectiveness of the intervention compared to usual care

If the effects of the intervention can be detected in assessments of the quality of mother-infant interaction and infant neurocognitive development

Investigators aim to determine whether this behavioral intervention can affect infant development as measured by neurodevelopmental assessments and cortisol reactivity at 4 months of age.

Condition or disease

Intervention/treatment

Postpartum DepressionInfant DevelopmentRhythm; Sleep

Behavioral: Resources for Postpartum Parenting

Detailed Description:

Developmental research consistently shows that postpartum depression has a negative impact on cognitive and emotional development during infancy and childhood. Low SES women face unique stressors and social challenges. Rates of postpartum depression are significantly higher in this group (23-33%) than in the general population (10-15%).

The purpose of this study is to understand how social circumstances, women's mood, and parenting techniques affect infant and child development. Specifically, investigators are interested in finding out whether a behavioral intervention, already being administered in IRB approved protocol #6285, targeting maternal caregiving of young infants can increase infant sleep and reduce fuss/cry behavior, thereby reducing the incidence and/or severity of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms, improving the quality of the mother-infant interaction, and improving infant developmental outcomes.

By collecting stress reports from women from low SES backgrounds during pregnancy and the postpartum period and by conducting follow-up observational assessments of the quality of mother-infant interaction, infant learning, infant cortisol reactivity, and infant neurocognitive development, investigators hope to identify whether this intervention can effectively meet these aims.

Behavioral intervention will include techniques to help mothers get their infants to cry/fuss less and sleep more to determine if this has an effect on prevalence of postpartum depression in low SES women and if it improves the quality of mother-infant interaction and subsequent child development.

Behavioral: Resources for Postpartum Parenting

The intervention includes four-sessions that targets maternal caregiving of young infants to increase infant sleep and reduce fuss/cry behavior and thereby simultaneously consolidate women's enjoyment of and confidence in their maternal role, this, in turn, promotes a cycle of a mutually re- warding engagement in the mother-infant dyad — the antithesis of a 'toxic' experience, and a strong foundation for improving the chances of a successful psychosocial adjustment, including adequate employment. Investigators believe PREPP holds tremendous promise as an intervention to fill the science-practice gap in the promotion of an optimal emotional environment for the developing infant, particularly for women and children living in poverty and/or facing significant psychosocial hardship.

Other Name: Practical Resources for Effective Postpartum Parenting

No Intervention: Control Group

This group will not receive the coaching tips to help babies cry less and sleep more.

The effect of behavioral intervention for infants on infant development [ Time Frame: 4 months (infant age) ]

Investigators will use neurodevelopmental assessments (Bayley Scale of Infant Development, Still Face Protocol, Free Play Observation, and Conjugate Kicking Task) and cortisol reactivity to assess infant development at 4 months of age.

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